Hunting with a Winchester 1895

S

Stefan

Member
Rating - 100%
26   0   0
A question for all of you traditionalists (or not) out there. Who hunts with a Winchester model 1895, old or new? I've always loved the look and history of the things, but have wondered how practical they are as a hunting rifle. Seems like that big mag box would make the rifle somewhat awkward to carry all day in the hand.

Best,

Stef
 
They are heavy and awkward for a one hand carry especially compared to the 1892/1894 rifles. But the balance point on the rifle version is somewhat forward of the action center so the hand wraps around a bit of the forend as well. But they are very steady for offhand shooting and are plenty accurate enough for woods hunting. Plus there is the attraction of having something "different" as well.
 
I have a newer miroku one in 30-06 that hasn't been fired yet however was thinking the same thing. It's shorter than the 1886 and a little lighter though not as light or short as the 1894 or Marlins. Fall hunting always presents a problem in which one of the 'family' to bring along!
 
I have an original in .303 Brit that I may try this fall with some 215 gr Woodleighs.

Stefan said:
A question for all of you traditionalists (or not) out there. Who hunts with a Winchester model 1895, old or new? I've always loved the look and history of the things, but have wondered how practical they are as a hunting rifle. Seems like that big mag box would make the rifle somewhat awkward to carry all day in the hand.

Best,

Stef
Click to expand...
 
I like hunting with leverguns, and spent most of one season with a Browning 1895 in .30-06. Smoothly functioning, accurate, nicely finished...and no tang safety, hallelujah!...but it just carried and balanced so differently than the typical levers I am accustomed to that I sold it soon afterwards. It just didn't turn my crank.

But what do I know? I sold my first Savage 99 years ago, after admitting to myself that I just didn't care for it. Fast forward 25 years...a nice 99 in .308 finds its way into my hands, I play with it for a few days, and it's down the road. Accurate, smooth, reliable...just not interesting to me.

You'll never know what you think of an 1895 until you get one and play with it for awhile. If you don't like it, you won't lose money selling it...and you should be good for another 25 years or so! :)
 
I have one in 300 Savage , and no that's not a misprint . I acquired it a few years ago off a local who said it was his fathers . Apparently , a gunsmith in the Rockie Mountain House area installed a take-off Savage 99 barrel ( Savage markings are still on the barrel ) sometime after the war . I fired it remotely ( tire and long string ) after checking headspace , perfect , and it works perfectly . It keeps factory 150's inside of 3 inches at one hundred , but that's probably more my 55 year old eyes . It'll be going out for white-tail does this fall , it should be fun . By the way , it is probably the rattiest looking 95 I've seen lol .
 
I have one of the miroku Winchester 95 carbines and love it.I like the look of the carbine more than the rifle it has a more unique appeal to it.

020.jpg
 
chasseur said:
I have one of the miroku Winchester 95 carbines and love it.I like the look of the carbine more than the rifle it has a more unique appeal to it.

020.jpg
Click to expand...

Nice. I have the same rifle in 30-06 (shot show special 2006 anniversary). Haven't shot it yet and it is currently unfired. It's a contender for this November!
 
I have a Miroku 95 in 30/40 Krag I'll be using on a moose hunt this year.

Also have a 1912 95 in 30/40 as well that my dad hijacked from me 2 hours after I bought it!

The new Winchesters are beautiful rifles. I also have a 92 in 44/40 and a new 94 in 30/30.
 
I hunted with my '95 rifle in 303 for a few years. The bluing was worn off the front of the magazine because that's where it balances in one hand. More often than not, I held on to the barrel and let the flat sides of the action rest on my shoulder. Long heavy rifle but I didn't mind, great design and great caliber.
 
I hunted with an original Winchester model 1895 a few falls ago. It was a 38-72 made in 1905 if I recall correctly. The 27" tapered octagon barrel balanced the rifle such that I carried it immediately forward of the box mag. Got a nice doe at 135 yards, though it was a tough shot in the early morning light and ground fog with the semi-buckhorn iron sights. Here is a photo ...

Doe-with-38-72.jpg
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom